Testing vat elevator



Jan. 10, 1950 R. E. BENSON TESTING VAT ELEVATOR Filed July 25, 1947 Robr/ E. Benson IN V EN TOR.

4W km,

Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TESTING VAT ELEVATOR Robert E. Bensbn, Wichita Falls, Tex. Application use, 1947, Serial No. 762,968

5 Claims. (Cl. 187-18) 1 -This invention relates to new and useful improvements in elevators and more especially short-lift elevators such as used in connection with testing vats to repair engine-cooling or automotive radiators or radiator repair benches, whereby an apparatus is provided for testing 'afnd repairing leaks in radiators and so that it canflbe raised or lowered to befilled with air or otherwise, or submerged in water or other solution-in a tank, to test leaks, or in an upright position, when raised, so that any solder that is used' to repair the radiator will fall into the water from where it can be reclaimed and reused. However, it'is to be understood that the primary purpose of the invention is to provide a novel and simple mechanism whereby the platform of the elevator may be raised or lowered in a simple and emcient manner, either by power or manually, and therefore it is not desired to be limited to any particular use even though the device may be raised by hydraulic means, by compressed air, and a novel arrangement of lazy tong levers whereby the platform or supporting surface will always remain in horizontal position, and can be quickly raised and lowered with a minimum of expenditure of power to efiiciently serve its purposes.

Therefore, an important object of the invention is to provide an elevator and novel means for raising and lowering the same embodying the simple basic principles of the cross bar lift designed for the purpose of lowering or raising any article to be tested, in a water or liquid filled vat or tank or otherwise, securing a maximum of vertical movement in either direction, up or down, so as to raise or lower the supporting surface of the elevator with a comparatively short movement of the operating means, thus rendering the device simple in principle and applicable, from a mechanical viewpoint, to various operating mechanisms other than for the purpose of testing elevators or in connection with a vat as set forth, the motive power being attached or applied to operate the elevator manually or by hydraulic or air power and operated with wires, cables, rods, chains and levers, or an oscillating shaft capable of being operated in any suitable manner and providing a device which will require a minimum of attention and eliminating complicated mechanism with the use of slides and pistons requiring more attention and upkeep when used under water, and especially so when the water is diluted with acids. The device may be known as a compound lift, which is the invention per se adapted for use with any kind of an elevator, the principle being to have the elevator move against a stationary linkage, causing operating forces for the compound lift whereby the same may be readily raised or lowered to the desired point. Another and important object of the invention is to provide an elevator of the lightest type of construction for lifting devices, without limiting the same to the particular use or uses mentioned but capable of application for various lifting purposes as embodied therein, within the scope of the invention, in addition to being inexpensive to produce and therefore economical in cost, and being simple to operate and efficient in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lift proper embodying novel principles of supporting and raising and lowering the same, for use where the horizontal surface of the elevator floor or platform is of equal or greater dimensions than the vertical movement of the lift to raised or lowered positions, so that the device will be practical for the removing or replacing of giant tires as large as 4 ft. by 12 ft. in diameter and with mobile wheels under the lift, so that it will constitute a wheeled carriage or lift device and may be used for stacking or transferring plate or other various uses.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which the figure is a vertical sectional view through the testing vat elevator of the present invention, some parts being shown in elevation.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the elevator is shown applied to a tank Ill, such as used in the repair and testing of radiators for automobiles and the like, although it is to be specifically understood that the invention is not limited to such use. The tank H) is supported in any suitable manner to raise the inclined or horizontal bottom I I thereof above the ground or supporting surface or floor and is provided with a suitable drain l2. As illustrated, the tank is supported upon side walls or legs IS, the work side or end being indicated at I6, while the back or rear side of the vat or tank is indicated at l 1, suitable provision being made to supply the tank with water or an acid solution when used for repairing and testing radiators, or otherwise. Any suitable size of tank, vat or tub may be employed, or the lift may be provided separate and apart from such tank for 58 including spaced parallel anglebars 2T. AnZ-f other supporting arm- 59" is suspended pi'vctally' at the top of the tank at the back, as indicated at iii, and has its lower end curved inwardly" for pivotal connection at 6! to the ad-iacentiend of the rocker arm 62 which, in turn, is crossed relative to the arm or lever 55 and pivotally connected thereto, as indicated at 63,..with. its free end extending upwardly in slightly obtuse angled relation to the lower portion, and tapered rorbeveled in rounded formation, as indicated at 64. The radiator elevating member 651isshownpivoted as indicated at 66 to the. anglebars- 21 and. has-oneend, namely, its short end, connected by; a. flexible member or chain til to the fioorand: suitable means 68 provided. for the.-purpose, so. that when the elevator platform or plateis; raised, the member 65 will bethrown. on its. pivot tov anupright position to raise -the radiator to, such. position for inspection. or further repair, either. at. the horizontal: top of the tank or above the: same, or to permit the sameto be lowered. into the tank for submerging theradiator fortesting thesame as with aninner. tubeof an automobile pneumatic tire. The action of the member 65 is automatic during the raising and-lower 1' ing of the elevator, so that when. the. latter is.- lowered into the tank, the member 65 will move down therewith at the. pivotBBso as to allow.- it to assume a horizontal position in line with the:

elevator platform or floor 21 and therefore lower theradiator flat upon the platform instead of moving to an upright position to which position it is advanced or moved when the elevator is raised In order to actuatethe elevator a. hydraulic or" fluid power-operated device which may-include air, is provided, including acylinderfill. which. is positioned horizontally on the top of theutank and its piston and rod H1 connected.to.an- .arm .H, asindicated at 1.2, at the pivot.axis--56-.of. the cantilever or arm 55,- to swing-.thelatter and its. cross arm 62 upwardly or downwardly-inthe manner clearly shown in solid and dotted-lines in thedrawings, in the raising and loweringof the elevator. The cylinder Gamay be mounted upon albracketpivotally, as indicated. at 13, and maybe equipped with a fluid connectionconduitmr pipe; {5 controlled by a valve 46 toadmit fluid :under. pressure to the cylinder. The valvel46 maybe-op.- erated from a foot treadle 48 in the-.- form of an; angle. lever pivoted at 49 to a bracket :atthe inside. of the front of the tank, near. the, floor and. cooperating with a notchedsegmentfin atthe. outside to hold the treadle in adjusted position A link 5| connects the free end of the treac'lle with an angular lever 52 pivoted at 53 adjacent the back of the tank and" floor, the lever 52being attached to a rod which is connected to the valve 46. In this connection, it should be noted that the compound arm or lever-arrangement provides for a greater vertical movement of 'the ele vator than the horizontaldimerision-of the-eleva-- tor, so that the latter-can'be raised at its? platformabove the top of the tank or'vat,ror"low.ered. substantially in close proximity to ther'bottom may be raised to the extreme height above the top of the tank or vat, with free access to all sides, for removing or replacing work on the elevator, such as a radiator, without any superstructure or parts extending above the top of the elevator, this being a great advantage over other types of devices heretofore provided and used. This structure is arranged so as to support and raise many times its own weight, and when used inra: liquid tank for testing purposes-;..the elevator is allowed to lower' itself-of its own weight down into the liquids so that the air test may be made,

'tl'ie same as with a tire tube, and after leaks are located, the. elevator is brought back to the top of the tank by applying pressure on the foot pedal which-.operatesazthe valve 46. The elevator, as

. described, may be used for various purposes, but

' of the type shown and described, it may be installed ina liquid tank without any rods or pistons working or passing through the walls of the tank below. the liquid level, thereby eliminating; leaks causedby. such constructions.

' In view. of .the, foregoing description taken-elm. conjunction. with the .accompanying..drawingsait, is believed that. a clear. understanding: of; the'deviice. will be .quite apparent-to those-skilled in this. art.- A more :detailed. description is: accordingly= deemed unnecessary.

. It to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownanddescribed. a; preterredjembodimentof the. invention, the same: issusceptible to certain changes: fully. compre-- handed by the spirit of the. invention-as hereirrdescribed and withinthe scope'of the ap ended.

claims.

levers-constituting a cantilever: having anxup wardly. extending end pivotally' mounted, the other leverbeing pivotally-connected tothe first lever:-.in. crossed. relation relativethereto, means; pivotallysupporting. the lower end. of the: second lever, the. upper'end of the second lever-:being. tapered and. beveled,.a platformpivotally con.- nected-at; the. free end of the. fiIStxlBV-Qlr and: extending: over the: upperiend of. the second. lever; torslidablermovement of said, latter endqwithi respect to. the.- platform,"whereby-whentthe levers: areraised and lowered; the platform will; remainv in. a horizontal position.

,ZwAn elevator of. the; class described for atank. or otherwise, a pair of crossed. levers,.-one;-of said; levers constituting at cantilever having; an:..up--, we rdly extending: end pivotally- -mounted,,.the: other leverbeing pivotally: connected to. the first,

lever in crossed relation relative thereto,. means,

pivotal-1y supportingthelower end of' the second lever, the upper .end'. of the second. lever-being; tapered and beveled; a platform pivotallyccona meted at the free: end :of the first levenand, ex tending over the-,upperend of thesecendlever for. slidablemovement of said. latter end with; respect to' the platform, whereby when: the "levers: areraised and loweredthe platform. will remain: in -a..'horizon-tal position, an. armxon-pthe pivot. connection .oithe. first; lever, and toot operazted power-. meansconnected" to said.- latter arm-:for' swinging. saidi levers on. their pivot axes: and on their;pivotal-:connection relative to: each other. to: move. thesame to: raisedextendedpositionsi for: raising the platform or forpermittlngthe: lower-; irig thereof into-= collapsed position for: the: pun

thereof, Thus, it will be. seen that the elevator poses-described.

3. In an open top substantially rectangular tank; an elevator comprising first and second L-shaped cantilevers having short vertically ex tending legs and longer horizontally extending legs, means to pivot the free ends of the short legs to opposing side walls of the tank adjacent the top end thereof, the longer legs being crossed and pivoted intermediate their ends, said first lever having a bevel on the free end of its longer leg, a platform pivoted to the free end of the longer leg of said second lever and slidable on said bevel, and means connected to one of said levers for raising and lowering said platform.

4. The combination of claim 3 and a means carried by said platform for additionally elevating an object on said platfor ROBERT E. BENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,012,203 Hunt Dec. 19, 1911 2,284,531 Miller et a1 May 26, 1942 

